The Carolina Panthers definitely need to provide quarterback Bryce Young with some more help.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young still has quite a bit to prove, but there is no doubt he showed some positive signs in 2025.
Young was good enough to lead the Panthers to an NFC South division title, and Carolina even pushed the Los Angeles Rams to the limit in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.
It was enough for the Panthers to commit to Young for next season and exercise his fifth-year option for 2027, so there was definitely some growth there.
That being said, Young still has some boxes left to check, and in order to help him do that, Carolina needs to get him some more help.
Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine has revealed a dream NFL Draft scenario for the Panthers in that regard, urging them to forego an edge rusher in favor of another offensive piece in the first round later this month.
"The Panthers just need to improve the ecosystem around Bryce Young," Ballentine wrote. "Ideally, they find a team that wants to trade up for an edge-rusher and still wind up with a wide receiver, like Makai Lemon, or lineman, like Caleb Lomu, who can help Young."
Makai Lemon. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.Lemon is viewed as one of the top wide receivers in this year's draft class, and he should actually fit Carolina pretty well.
Right now, the Panthers have Tetairoa McMillan and Xavier Legette on the outside with Jalen Coker mostly lining up in the slot, but if Carolina takes Lemon, it can move Coker outside permanently.
That would obviously mean Legette would be benched, but based on his shoddy production his first couple of NFL seasons, you can understand why.
Lemon hauled in 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns at USC this past season, and in 2024, he caught 52 passes for 764 yards and three scores.
His lack of size is certainly a concern, but again, if the Panthers are placing him in the slot, that won't mean as much.
As far as Lomu? I'm just not so sure selecting a tackle in the first round would be advisable for Carolina considering it already has Rasheed Walker and Taylor Moton at the position.
The Panthers may want to nab an eventual Moton replacement (and Walker is only on a one-year deal), but I'm not sure how wise it would be for a playoff-contending team to draft a player who is basically guaranteed not to start in Year 1.
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